Tack machine



Feb. 22 9 W?" G. B. BAKER ET AL TACK MACHINE B. BAKER ET AL TACK MACHINE Filed June 21. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fel 22 1927. G B. BAKER ET AL 1 TACK MACHINE Filed June 21. 1923 5 Shotg-Shoet s over-fins, Z, ear 911362287,

)[er .eiwalev. 7 Z'zZn/aaa? 6250:2221;

Feb. 22 1927. 1,618,628

- 5. 8. BAKER ET AL TACK mcnmm Filed June 21, 1923 S/SheetS-Sheet 4 Feb. 22 1927. 1,618,628

G, B. BAKER ET AL TACK MACHINE Filed June 21, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jfiz $59M Q a." I w,

Patented Feb. 22, 1921- I NITE ST BAKER, Am EDWARD" c. BAKER, E IBROCKTON,

GEORGE B, BAKER, HERBERT B.

I 1,618,628 PATENT OFFICE.

. MASSACHUSETTS f moi: mAcnm'E.

Application filed June 21, 1923.. Serial No. 646,846.

essentials from thecfirst machines which were 1 introduced to displace the hand cutting operation,

These machines generally comprise a vertically reciprocating knife or knives, a fixed anvil, body and .head forminginstrumentalities, and means for presenting the tack strip .or blank in position for cutting. The presenting means usually consists of an inclinecl, oscillating barrel furnished at its lower end with a nose piece having a guide channel for the passage of the blank and normally resting upon the anvil. The upper end of the elongate blank or nail strip is secured in a pair of nippers mounted upon the end of a rigid rod or bar and isintroduced endwise into the barrel so that its low or end protrudes through the nose piece into position to be engaged by the knives, its

protruding end being properly positioned by laterally spaced guards between which it projects. The nipper bar is moved gradually into the barrel by means of a suspended weight, thus feeding the blank forwardly as it is consumed. Usually the oscillation of the barrel is stopped automatically bythe movement of a part carried by the nipper rod when the blank strip has been consumed substantially up to its point of emergence from between the guards. A piece of considerable length which extends between the guards and through the nose piece is necessarily Wasted, and the percent of waste is frequently increased by carelessness on the part of the operator, either in gripping too much of the strip between the jaws, or by replenishing too soon, and before as much as possible of the strip has been used.

- For replenishing the blank presenting means, the operator must disconnect the nipper bar from the weight by which it is moved and withdrawit from the barrel, open the jaws to release the waste end of the blank,

insert a fresh blankbetween the jaws, in-

troduce the blank into the barrel, connect the feeding device to the nipper bar and start .of the machine.

the barrel oscillating means into action. As an operator is required to care for several machines, it frequently happens that some time elapses before he observes .thata machine needs replenishing and this delay, to-' gether with the time actually consumed in replenishment has been found to represent 30% or more of the possible operating time Various attempts have heretofore been made to provide automatic mechanism for relenishing such machines but sofar as is nown to us, none of such attempts have been commercially successful. Whereas with ordinary hand replenishment the operator exercises constant supervision over the machine and notes immediately any failure of the strip to feed properly or of the cutting and forming instrumentalities to function, the fully automatic machine lacks such supervision, and if, as frequently happens, all of its functions fail exactly to coordinate, it may continue to run indefinitely, ruining and wasting large quantities of valuable stock. Moreover, such automatic machines are very costly and necessitate the scrapping of the old machines with which existing factories are equipped.

Principal objects of the resent invention are to provide improved blank replenishing devices of a semi-automatic character, applicable to existing machines of usual type without substantial .change therein and by the employment of which the time lost in replenishing the machine is very greatly re duced, thus permitting one operator to care for a greater number of machines than usual but without sacrificing the advantages derived from his constant presence and supervision of each machine; to provide improved blank presenting means of a-t-ype which permits the useful employment of the entire blank, thus avoiding the usual waste of the butt end portion of the blank; if desired, to provide signal means for notifying the operator of the need for replenishment; and to provide for automatically initiating the operation of the replenishing devices at the proper time.

In the accompanying drawings the Present improvements are illustrated by way of example as applied to a tack making machine of well known and usual construction, and in the drawings;-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of such a machine having the present improvement embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the tack forming instrumentalities and associated parts; the strip presenting means being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the operative end of the strip presenting means, together with certain of the tack forming devices;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the lower part of the strip presenting barrel showingcertain features of the improved construction as applied thereto;

Fig. 6 is a. bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. v i

Fig.7 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of the up J81 or receiving end of the strip presenting arrel, together with por tions of the replenishing mechanism of the present invention; a

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section on the line 88 of Fig.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary Inn View, partly in section, illustrating the s rape of the fixed or ledger blade of the cutting instrumentalities;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating an auxiliary automatic control for the replenishing mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a cross section on the line 11-1l of Fig. 6;

Fi 12 is a fragmentary cross section on the hue l:2-12 of Figs. 1 and 7;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevation showlng modified means for controlling the operation of the replenishing devices and Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a further modified form of automatic control.

Tack fawning instrumentalties.

Referrin T to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates tie frame of a tack machine of substantially usual construction. This machine comprises the main drive shaft 2 provided with fast and loose pulle s 3 4 respectively, and with the usual y wheel 5. The machine is also provided with an anvil block 6 having the normally fixed anvil plate or ledger blade 7. This ledger blade is of wear-resistant material such as tempered steel and is usually made adjustable to compensate for wear and sharpening. A pair of movable cutters 8, 9 and a movable back gage 10 are actuated in-timed relation by means of cams on the main cam shaft 2. The heading and body forming instrumentalities, not shown herein. are likewise operated by suitable devices carried by the main shaft.

Upon the upper face of the anvil block a A hooked link 15' engages the member 14:

and this link is pivotally connected at 16 to the lower arm of a hell crank lever fulcrumed at 18. The upper arm 19 of this lever extends horizontally across the machine and lies in the path of movement of a cam :20 carried by the main shaft. Thus at each rotation of the main shaft the gage ll is retracted and then allowed to returnto its normal position. To support the weight of the upper arm 19 of the bell crank lever a spring 21 is arranged to bear against the lower arm thereof, While a stop screw limits the movement of the bell crank under the action of this spring.

Strip presenting meam.

A table projects forwardly from the main frame of the machine and supports an extension arm 24 which terminates in a bracket 25. This bracket is provided with a seat 26 having a substantially hemispherical bearing cavity for thereception of a freely turning ball of spherical bushing 27. This hall or bushing is provided with a diametral opening for the reception of the barrel 28. The barrel is an elongate hollow cylinder which slides freely in an axial direction within the bushing. The upper end of this barrel is furnished with a collar 29 which engages the bracket to limit. movement of the barrel in one direction. The barrel normally inclines downwardly from the bracket 25 toward the anvil block 6 and is provided at its lower end with a gripper head 30, (Figs. 3., 5 and 6).

The barrel is oscillated (rotated alterua tively in opposite-direetions) during the operation of the machine by the usual means comprising a pair of straps 31 and 32 which are wrapped in opposite directions around the barrel and whose lower ends are secured to the opposite arms 33 and 34 respectively of a lever device fulcrumcd at 35 upon the extension member 24.. This lever device is furnished with a downwardly extending arm 86 provided with a stop pin 37. A block 38' is adjustably secured upon the actuating link 39 at a point to the rear of the pin 37.

The forward end of the link 39 is provided with an adjustable, normally fixed block 40, furnishing a bearing for a lever comprising the weighted handle 41 and the arm 42. The rear end of the arm 42 is preferably notched slightly to permit it se-- curely to engage the curvedsurface of the pin 37. The rear end of thelink 39 isconnected'to' one arm 43 of a bell crank lever fulcrumed at 43 upon a suitable part of the machine frame and this lever is rocked by connection to a crank pin 45 adjustably mounted upon a crank disc 46. This disc is driven by means of gear teeth w'hich'mesh with the teeth of a gear 47 carried by the main shaft. A

In the normal operation of the 'ina-chine the lever arm 42 occupies the position shown in Fig. 1, and thus transmits movement from the link 39 to the block 38 therebyrocking the arms 33 and 34 and causing the barrel to.

turn alternately in opposite directions. By disengaging the arm 42 from pin 37.. the

oscillation of the barrel may be stopped, if

desired. 7

Strip feeding mechanism.

fed to the tack forming instrumentalities byaxial reciprocation of the barrel. The de sired movement is imparted to the barrel by means of a collar 48 secured thereto and having a circumferential groove 49. A pair of oppositely disposed pins carried by a yoke fiOcn age the groove 49. The yoke 50 has a swivelconnection with the up er end 51 of a lever fnlcrumed upon a bracliet 52 carr ed by the extension member 24. The lower arm 53 of this lever is connected by means of a link 54 to a motion-reversing lever 55, which in turn, is connected by means of a link 56 to the lower arm 57 of an actuating lever. The upper arm 58 of the latter lever is provided with a contact member which normally engages a cam 59 mounted on the main shaft. A spring 59 connected to link 54, acts in opposition to the cam and urges the barrel in the direction of feed, the feed movement thus being of non-positive character.

Strip presenting gripper head.

the barrel where they are bent to provide thelips 63, 64, and 66 respectively. These lips define oppositely disposed channels 67 and 68, respectively, for the reception of the edges of the tack strip as it moves toward the cutting instrumentalities.

The members 61 and 62 of the gripper head do not touch each other but are so spaced as to. provide slots 69, 7 O at opposite sides of the gripper head. Preferably the outer ends of the members 61 and 62 are tapered and terminate respectively in the substant ally straight portions 7 3 and 74, whose opposed inner surfaces and 7 (5 constitute gripping elements for securing and firmly engaging the opposite edges of the tack strip. Themembers c1 and 62 are made of resilient material and are so disposed that the surfaces 7 5 and 7 6 normally engage the edges of the tackstrip with considerable pressure, such pressure being increased during the cutting operation by the action of the movable gage 14 which alternately bears against the outer surface of one or the other of the members 73 and 74.

At the lower end of the barrel a guide member 77 is located, such member having a converging passage78 terminating in a slot 78 disposed substantially in the, plane defined by the gripping surfaces 75 and 7 6. Thispassage 78 thus serves to direct tack strips properly toward the gripping surfaces. The barrel turns and slides freely in a collar 80 having diametrally projecting pins 81 with which the hooked extremities of a bifurcated hold-down spring 82 engage. This spring is secured to the extension member 24 at the point 82 preferably being adjustable in a lateral direction to permit variation in the lateral position of the gripper head with respect to the cutting instrumentalities. Normally the collar 80 rests upon a set screw 8O carried by a bracket 83, the adj ustmentof the screw being such thatduring the feeding movements of the barrel the frictional engagement of the projecting end of the tack strip with the anvil is relieved so that proper and accurate feeding of the strip is not thereby interfered with.'

Signal controlling devices.

At opposite sides, respectively of the slot as to be engageable with the adjacent lips (55 and 63 of the gripper head.

The free end 94 of this lever constitutes a feeler element which normally contacts with a tack strip held between the gripping sur- To limit such movement lugs 92 and 93 pro ect'from the lever in such a position faces 74 and 75 of the gripper head. In a tack strip 95 is indicated as just entering the gripper-head, and upon further movement of this tack strip it will engage the feeler element 94 and swing the feeler lever outwardly in opposition to the spring 91, but in the absence of the strip t again return to the position shown lnFig. 5. This feeler has a secondary function by reason of the resilient pressure with which it bears against the stop.. This tends to hold the strip firml in position during the oscillation of the arrel and insures its proper presentation to the cutters.

At a point near the lower end of the bar-- rel, abearing bracket 96 is mounted onthe table 23.' This bearing bracket supports a vertical rock shaft 96 having an upper arm 97 which is normally disposed substantially in the vertical plane of the barrel and in the plane of rotation of the tail of the lever 88 as the latter oscillates with the barrel. The end of the arm 97 is furnished (Fig. 8) with a beveled face 98 intersecting a substantially vertical face -99, the purposeofwhich will hereinafter be more fully explained.

The rock shaft 96' is furnished with a. leterally extending arm 97' which is connected by means of a link 100 with a retractable latch 101. This latch is mounted, to slide in a bearing 102 carried by a yoke 103 pivotally mounted upon the bracket 25. The yoke supports a slotted guideway 104 which is adjusted, normally to lie in a plane parallel with but spaced from the axial line of the barrel by means of an adjusting screw which engages a -depending arm 104 of the yoke. At one side of this guideway 21. signal lever 105 is mounted to swmg upon a pm 105".

This signal lever is provided at one end with a disc 106 of any desire color and at its other end with a counterweight 107 which normally tends to hold the lever in substantially vertical position. Normally, however, the lever liesv in substantial alignment with the guideway and with its counterweight 107 supported by the latch 101. This latch may, if desired, be provided with a spring for holding it in projected position, but this is not necessary as the arm 97 of the rock shaft 96 is normally held against a stop pin 97 by meansof a s ring 97 which also serves to v restore the'latc 1 to normal position after its 1e lever will normally engaging the pin 110 to hold the block 108 at the upper end of the guideway. Other forms of latch-than that, here shown might of course be employed if desired. a

An elongate trough-like carriage or receptacle 113 having the curved side walls 114 and 115 (Fig. 12) is disposed in axial alignment with the barrel 28. The cross sectional contour of this receptacle is such as to per mit it freely to enter and slide axially within the barrel, and its lower end is normally Ipositionedjust within the u per end of the arrel so as tobe'supporte thereby. The sides of the receptacle do not extend to its upper end, the latter consisting merely of a substantially flat plate ll6which is bent to provide an attaching bracket 117 secured to the block 108 bynieans of a screw 118.

The rear face of the block 108 is furnished with a loo or eye 119 to whichthe upper end of a exible connection or cord 120 is secured. This cord passes rearwardly along the guideway and over a pulley 121 carried by-the yoke 103...The cord then passes downwardly. and about a pulley 122 and thence upwardly to an eye.123 to which it is attached. The pulley 122 supports a weight 124 which normally tends to move the block 108 downwardly along the guideway to carr the'receptacle 113 longitudinally into the arrel.

A post 124 projects upwardly from the block 108 and preferably terminates in a han-- (lle 125:). The post is furnished with an openmg aligning with the axis of the barrel and a sleeve 126 (Fig. 7) is arranged to rotate freely within this opening. This sleeve is provided with a transverse ivot pin upon which oppositely disposed nipper jaws 127 and 128 are fulcrumed. These aws extend in substantial alignment with the axis of the barrel and are furnished at their forward ends with actuating handles 129 and 130 respectively between whicha spring 131 is interposed. These nippers constitute holdin means for resiliently engaging the upper en of a reserve tack strip 95 resting in the replenishing trough or receptacle 113..

Controlling means for the replenishing devices.

The block 108 is normally held at the upper end of the guideway 104 by engagement of the latch member 112 with the pin 110. This latch may, if desired, be released by 111021115 of a handle 132 secured to its upper end, thus permitting manual actuation of the replenishing means, if desired, but in accordance with the present invention, this latch may be automatically released at the proper time in the operation to insert a fresh tack strip in the gripper head.

Certain of the signal actuating devices are made use of for releasing the latch 112 to initiate replenishment. To this end the -which the solenoid 111 is included.

tail of the feelcr lever 88' is provided with a. knife blade extension 88 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6). A pair of insulated blocks 88 and. 88 is secured to the barrel (Fig. 6) and these blocks are provided with resilient contactarms 88 and 88. These arms are substantially parallel and so disposed that when the extension 88 of the lever swings away from the barrel it enters between and frictionally engages the contact arms, thus providing an electrical connection between them.

Theblocks 88 and 88 are connected re spcctively by suitable conducting wires with a pair of metallic rings 88 88 (Figs. 3 and 4') mounted on insulating bushings such as 88 secured to the barrel. Resilient metallic fingers or brushes 88 and 88 bear on the outer peripheral surfaces of the re-. spective rings. These fingers or brushes aresecured to an insulating support 88 carried by the table 23. Conducting wires 88, 88 lead from the respective brushes 88 and 88, such wires forming a part of an electrical circuit, hereinafter more fully described, in

provided for breakswitch 88 is preferably and 88 ing the circuit through the wires 88 when desired.

Au wiliary controlling means.

crumed at 139 upon a suitable part of the machine frame.

A shaft 1 10 is mounted to turn in bearings in a bracket 141 supported by a cross bar- 142 of the frame. This shaft is furnished "with a ratchet Wheel 1 13 which is intermittently actuated by a pawl 144 pivotally mounted on a sleeve'secured to the link 39. A cam disc 145 is securedv to the shaft 140 and is furnished with a cam lug 146' turning in the plane of a projection 147 carried by the lever 138. A spring 148 normally holds the lever 138 in the position shown in Fig. 10 with the bottom members 136 and 137 of the hopper closed, but upon engagement of the lug 146 with the projection 147 the lever is swung to open the hopper.

' At apoint adjacent to the shaft 140, an-

and on thisother shaft 149 is journalled,

This disc is" shaft a disc 150 is secured.

' preferably made of hard fibreor other elec:

trical insulating material, and is furnished at one point in its edge with a metallic contact e1ement 151 which is electrically connected to the shaft 149. The shafts 140 and 149 are caused to turn in synchronism by any suitable means such for example as a belt 152 engaging pulleys carried by the respective shafts.

A lever comprising arms 153 and 154 is journalled at 155 on the bracket 141. The arm 15% is furnished with a trough-like receptacle 156 disposed immediately below the discharge opening in the bottom of the hopper 135. The arm 153 of the lever is fured" respectively to the terminals of the solenoid 111. A suitable source of electrical energy, such for example as a battery'162, is interposed in one of the conductors and a switch 161 may be providedif desired. The ends of the \vires88 and 88 are connected respectively to the 160, 161.

Modified forms of automatic control.

An alternative form of automatic control for the replenishing means which may be substituted for either or both forms heretofore described, is illustrated in Fig. 13.

In accordance with this second arrangement, a rock shaft 163 is mounted in suitable bearings in the frame of the machine to'extend across and in front of the tackforming instrumentalities. This rock shaft is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 164 having a cam follower 165 which bears against the peripheral surface of a cam 166 mounted on the main shaft 2. A

spring, 167 normally tends to hold. the con-- tact element 165 in engagement with the cam and the latter is; provided with a depression at 168 into which the cam follower may drop at each revolution of the shaft.

. A second arm 169 extends forwardly'from the rock shaft 163 and terminates in a forked extremity which overlies a collar 170 which is freely slidable on a feeler bar 171 mounted to slide in bearings 172 and 173 which are suitably supported'by the. frame of conductors the machine. The collar 170 rests upon the upper end of'a coil spring 174 surrounding whose lower end rests upon the pin 171 and a collar 17 5 secured to the pin. A second collar 176 is fixed to the pin 171 at a. point immediately above th'e normal osition of the forkof the lever arm 169. I desired, a

177 may be interposedbetween the 1-7 3 and the fixed collar 175.

spring bearing At the upper end of the in 171 an electrical contact 178 is secure This contact cooperates with a second contact 17 9 mount- .ed upon the bearing 172 but insulated from the latter. The contacts 178 and 179 are electrically connected by means of conductois 180 and 181 with the solenoid 111, preferably employing a part of the same electrical circuit as that previously described.

In Fig. 14 a further modified form of control is illustrated which may if desired, be substituted for that-shown in Fig. 10.

In this instance a hopper 200 is mounted on the machine frame in a position to receive the tacks as formed. This hopper has an inclined bottom 201 pivoted at 202 to permit it toopen, and provided with an adjustable counterweight 203 which normally tends to keep it closed.

An arm 204 is secured to the bottom member near its pivotal axis and this arm sup ports a weight 205 whose center of gravity is normally substantially in the vertical plane of the pivotal axis. A second arm 206 projects downwardl from the axial portion of the bottom mem er and is connected by a link 207 with the lower arm of a lever 208 pivotally secured to the guideway 104. A latch disengaging rod 209 is connected to the upper arm of lever 208 and isfurnished with a cam incline 210 engageable with a pin projecting laterally from the latch 112. The upper arm of the lever 208 projects upwardly above its point of connection with the rod 209 for a purpose hereinafter to be described. Below the hopper 200, a receptacle 211 may be placed to receive tacks discharged from the hopper.

Operation. The machine operates substantially as follows, it being assumed that a tack strip is tack strip within the gripper head 30 holds the feeler lever in such a position that its tail will not engage the arm 97 of the signal actuating lever, and its knife blade extension does not contact with the arms 88 and 88. Thus the latch 101 holds the signal lever in the full-line position shown in Fig.

1, while the circuit through the solenoid 111 is broken and the block 108 with the replenishing receptacle or trough 113 is held in the position shown in Fig. 1.

As the cam shaft rotates the cutters move down past the edge of the ledgerblade or anvil 7 and out oil that portion of the tack strip which projects beyond the end of the gripper head and over the edge of the ledger blade. As the edge of the ledger blade is inclined with respect to the axis of the tack strip and as the moving knives are similarly positioned the piece of metal cut off is wider at one en than at the other. This piece is carried down by the mo vin g blades and is then caught by the body-forming and heading desurface of the latter, and as no note piece of the usualtype employed, it is possible to grip the strip betweenthe'surfaccs 7 5 and 7e at a point so closely adjacent to the line of cut that a much cleaner and more accu-. rate cutting action than usual is possible, while substantially all waste eliminated.

lVhile the end of the strip is still held by the cutters the barrel is retracted slightly, thereby causing the gripping surfaces 74 and 75 of the gripper head to slide relatively to the strip, and to secure a fresh grip thereon. During such movement the gage 1.4 is retracted to ease the grip of the surfaces 74: and 75 and by reason of the forward inclination of the upper face of the anvil and the support furnished the barrel by the member 83, the end of the gripper head clears the anvil as it moves backward and forward.

\Vhile the cutters are returning to their upper position and. before they begin their downward stroke, the barrel is oscillated through a half revolution, thus turning the strip so that as the cutters again descend its end is ositioned to overlap the end of the ledger Blade as indicated in Fig. 9 in such manner as again to permit a wedgesha ed portion to be cut therefrom, it being an erstood that the barrel is reciprocated back-i wardly toward the cutters and that the gage 14 is returned to normal position before the cutters again engage the strip. During the return stroke of the barrel, the clearance atforded between the upper face of the anvil and the projectin end of the strip prevents the latter from being pushed back relatively to the gripper head by frictional contact with the anvil.

'The operation above described continues indefinitely until the strip is substantially exhausted. Y

As the rear end of the strip feeds past the end 94 of the feeler lever, the latter is per-' mitted under the action of the sprin 91 to swing inwardly into the gripper hea The tail of the lever is thus caused to project outwardly so that as the barrel oscillates it ,diately 7 weight 12a to pull the block 108 downwardly receptacle113 with its upper endbetweenthe nipper jaws; 127 and 128, and with its lower end projecting beyond the lower end of the trough 113 and into barrel28.

It will be observed that the feeler element 94.- of the lever 88 is disposed very near to the end of the gripper head so that substantially all of the strip has been used up be fore the feelcr lever is allowed-to swing.

As the feeler lever swings in the absence of a. strip in the gripper head, the knife blade extension 88 completes the electrical circuit through the arms 88 and 88 thereby energizing the solenoid 111. This immelifts the latch 112 and permits the along the guideway 104.. The replenishing trough or receptacle 113, with the reserve strip therein, is thus moved longitudinallyinto the barrel until the projecting.

lower end of the strip passes out through the slot '78 in the guide member 77 and into the gripper head. As the end of the strip moves downwardl through the gripper head it engages the eeler lever and swings the latter back to inoperative position. The edges of the strip are then gripped between the sur-- faces 73 and- 74 and the strip continues to feed to the cutting instrumentalities in the 'usual manner. During insertion of the end of the stripbetween the gripping surfaces of the gripper head, the nipper jaws 127 and 128 rotate treely' with the barrel while I maintaining their grip on the upper end oi the away .stri

As the block 108 with the reserve-strip receptacle moves downwardly along the guide-' 104, the stop pin 110 engages the de-. pending arm 1107 of the signaldeviceand;

swings the latter back to inoperative position, where it is held by the latch 101 which snaps beneath it.- Whenconvenient the operator seizes the handle and draws-the 1 block 108 with the trough -113'back to its original position as shownin. 1.. As the grip of the nippers comprism rt e jaws 127, 128 is merely sutficient to ho ld' the reserve strip in proper position in the receptacle, the

upper end of the strip is readily pulled out from between such nippers thus permitting the free retraction of the block 108.: The pin 110 snaps beneath the latch 112 holding the parts in normal positionand the operator new places ainew strip between the mppers and within the receptacle-113.

' "Asthe operation ofretracting thei-replem l ishing receptacleand of placinga new strip" therein consumes but ai very shorttime, and.

as this operation ma be, performed at any. fee mg of the stripin the time during the barrel, it is a comparatively easy matter for of' the-mechanisin requires thepresence of an operator at int'ervals so that ifanything goes wronw there is no such-waste; of material as,

would befthe case; where themachinepr r vided with a magazine holding a great num-f i ber of stjrips.-''- "If for any reason the feeler'fing'er with-its associated parts should 'fail to initiate move ment of thereserve strip into thebarrel, such movement will be initiated by the operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10. 1

As the tacks are cut from the .end of the strip they drop into, the hopper and accumulate inthe lower part otthe latter. The ratchet wheel 143 isslowly turned by the pawl 14:4, carrying with it thecam disc 145. When the cam lug-.146-comesinto en gagement with the projection147 on the lever 138 it swings the doors 136,137 apart, thus permittingthe contents of the'hopper to drop as a single mass. 'lhismass of tacks 90 falling into the trough like device 156 raises therear end- 153 of the lever upon which such trough-like device is supported, there" by moving the lug' 159 away fromthe disc I so that as the contact element 151 passes beneath .the'lug-l59, the'electrical circuit through thewires 160- and 161 remains I broken, Upon exhaustion of thev tack strip, no tacks will accumulate in the-hopper 135 as the machine continues to function. When .'100

the lug 146 now passes" beneath the projec-.

ment oftheg'lever carrying the-trough-like i idevice' 156. The projection159thusrelnai'nsg l incont-act with the periphery. of the disc 10';

150 andas the contact element 151 coine'sin-f lease the replenishing receptacle. The proper pe ation ofthe latteris thus assuredeven ilo though the feeler finger should for any reaj I son fail to'act. -While it is preferred toeniv ploy both theifeelerfinger and the control:

ling mechanism shown in detail in Fig.10, it is contemplated that under some condi-. 115

tions one or the otherv of such devices might be omitted. I

The operation of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 13 is as follows, it being understood to reciprocate in thelvertical plane of-theslot between thetwo parts of the gripper; ghead so that it' normally restsuponzthe face' off the strip as the latter p sse's downward 1y. th1-oughthe gripper head. 5- y 5 g 'Normally-thej ciam follower. 165-,r'ests upon theperipheral-surface.o'f the' cam166-onthe 1 shaft 2. i In this positionof the parts the j arm 16 9 cairied' by"the rock shaft 163- is held .in. uppermost position therebyengag- 130 to .engage-menttherewith thecircuit iscom- '1 pleted and the solenoid 111 actuated to re- 3,

that the feeler bar or pin-171 is arranged 120 place.

1 position.

ing the collar 176 and lifting the pin 171 so that it does not interfere with the free oscillation of thegripper head. At a proper time in the cycle of operations the contact element drops into the depression 108 of the cam under the action of spring 167. the arm 109 thereupon presses downwardly upon the sliding collar comprising spring 174: and forces the pin into coptact with the face of the strip in the gripper head. This contact is momentary, as the cam 160 immediately depresses the follower member 165, thus again raisingthe pin 171. It at the instant the pin is depressed, a strip is present in the gripper head, the lower end of the pin strikes the strip and its further movement is limited thereby, the spring 174 being compressed. If on the other hand the strip is absent, the pin 171 is permitted to descend far enough to permit the contact element 17 8 to engage the contact 179, thus completing the circuit through the wires 180, 181 and energizing the solenoid 111.

The device shown in Fig. 14 may be used as a substitute for that shown in Fig. 10, its operation being as follows. The tacks dropping from the cutters accumulate n the hopper 200, sliding down to the lowermost part of the closure member 201. WVhen a sul'licient quantity of tacks has accumulated in the hopper to overbalance the counterweight 203 the closure begins to turn, and as soon as the weight 205 passes the vertical plane of the axis 202 it acts to swing the closure 201 open with considerable rapidity and force. This movement of the closure is transmitted through the latch 207 and the lever 208 to the latch disengaging rod 209, which thereupon lifts the latch 212 permit ting the replenishing operation to take As the block 108 slides down the uideway 104, a resetting dog 212 carr ed the block strikes the upstanding portion 211 of the lever 208, thus closing the door 201 and restoring the weight 205 to normal Any of the mechanisms above described for initiating movement of the replenishing mechanism may be employed e1ther separately or in conjunction, and with the novel form of presenting means employed, assure the economical use of the blank strips from which the tacks are cut, as substantially no waste'of butt ends are left, and the time of replenishment is not dependent upon the whim of the operator.

We claim:

1. A tack making machine hav ng cutting instrtunentalities, strip presenting. means comprising a pair of opposed gripping surfaces for, engaging the opposite narrow edges of a tack strip closely adjacent to the cutting point, means for reciprocating said gripping means toward and from the cutting instrumentalities, an element urging one of said gripping surfaces toward the other during the cutting operation, and means rendering said element inoperative during the reciprocation oi the gripping means away from the cuttinginstrumentalities.

2. A tack machine having fixed and movable cutting instrumcntalities, a gripper head comprising a pair of resilient jaws arranged to grip the lateral edges of a strip while being cut, the ends of said jaws being positioned substantially at the plane of movement of the movable cutting instrumentalities during the cutting operation.

3. A tack machine having cutters, a strip holding barrel having a gripper head provided with opposed strip engaging elements normally engaging a strip with resilient pressure at a point closely adjacent to the point of engagement of the cutter with the strip, means for reciprocating the barrel with its head toward and from the cutters,

and means for decreasing the pressure of said strip engaging elements against the strip as the head moves away from the cutters.

4. A tack machine having cutting instrumentalities, a gripper head comprising relatively movable jaws for gripping a. strip while being cut, and gages engaging the opposite jaws respectively during the cutting operation for accurately positioning the strip.

5. A tack making machine comprising operating instrumentalitics including cutting means and blank presenting means, the latter comprising an oscillating gripper head having opposed, relatively movable blank gripping jaws arrangedfto grip the blank at a point closely adjacent to the point of engagement of the cutter therewith, a drive shaft, and means actuated by the drive shaft for retracting one of said jaws from the other during the intervals between succes sive cutting operations.

6. A tack making machine having an oscillating barrel provided with a gripper head comprising relatively movable blank gripping jaws, a fixed age with which one of said jaws engages during the tack cutting operation, and a second gage movable into contact with the other'jaw whereby to press said jaws into engagement with a' blank.

7. A tack machine having cutters, an oscillatory, strip holding barrel terminating 1n a gripper head, said head comprising a pair of resilient jaws provided with opposed strip engaging surfaces, means for reciprocating the barrel toward and from the cutters, gages engageable with the respective jaws during the cutting operation pro erly to position the strip, one of said gages earing against the correspondin jaw with resilient pressure, and means or releasing said pressure as the head is retracted from the cutters.

8. A tack making machine comprising an oscillating gripper head having opposed relatively movable blank gripping jaws, a fixed gage against which one of said jaws rests during the tack cutting operation, a movable resiliently'actuated gage, a lever swinging in time with the oscillation of the gripper head, and connections between the lever and movable gage whereby to retract thelatter from the other jaw of the gripper head during intervals between successive cutting operations.

9. A tack making machine comprisin cutting instrui'nentalities, an oscillating and axially reciprocating barrel, and means for oscillating and reciprocating the barrel in the intervals between the cutting operations, said barrel being provided on one end with blank gripping means, said gripping means i being constructed and arranged firmly to grip the blank at a point closely adjacent to the cutting point during the cut-ting operation and to release theblank as the barrel is reciprocated away from the cutting instrumentalities.

10. A tack making machine having an oscillating barrel provided with a gripper head comprising resilient, blank engaging jaws, a fixed gage" with which one jawcontacts during the tack cutting operation, and a second gage which is resiliently pressed against the other jaw of the gripper head during the cutting operation to cause it forcibly to engage a blank.

11. A tack making machine having an oscillating barrel provided with a gripper head comprising relatively movable, resiliently supported'blank gripping elements, a fixed gageagainst which one of said elements rests during the tack cutting operation. a spring pressed movable gage, and means operating in timed relation to the oscillation of the barrel permitting the latter gage to move toward the fixed gage thcrel'iy pressing the second of said barrel gripping elements against the blank.

12. A tack making machine having an oscillating barrel provided with a gripper head comprising opposed relatively movable blank gripping jaws. a fixed gage against which one of said jaws rests during the tack cutting operation. a movable spring pressed gage, a lever, a link connecting one arm of thelever with the movable gage. and a cam moving in time with the oscillation of the barrel operable to swing the other arm of the lever whereby to retract the movable gage from the other jaw of the gripper head during the intervals between successive cutting operations.

l3. tack ma hine having an anvil. a

movable cutter cmperating therewith. a strip rut-citing barrel, nicans lor reciprocating the barrel toward and from the cutter, and means independent of the strip for supporting and guiding the barrel in its reciprocating movement in a predetermined path such as to prevent substantial frictional engage-- ment of the strip protruding from the. barrel with the surface of the anvil as the barrel approaches the cutter.

14. A tack machine having cutting inst-runientalities and means for presenting a tack strip to said instrinnentalities, said presenting means comprising a barrel, means supporting that end of the barrel remote from the cutting instrumentalities, said supporting means being so constructed and arranged as to permit the delivery end of the barrel to swing freely downward, and normally fixed means for sustaning the weight of the delivery end of the barrel whereby to avoid frictional retardation of the projecting end of the tack strip by engagement with parts below the delivery end of the barrel as the strip is moved toward cutting position.

15. A tack machine having an anvil provided with a fixed ledger blade, a movable cutter cooperable therewith, a strip receiving barrel, means independent of the stri for supporting the barrel so as to incline ownwardly toward the anvil, a. gripper headat the lower end of the barrel, and means for reciprocating the barrel axially, the means for supporting the barrel being so constructed and arranged as substantially to avo'd contact of the gripper head with the anvil during the movement of the barrel toward the cutter.

16. A tack machine of the kind having a fixed and a movable cutter and a reciprocating barrel for presenting a tack strip to the cutters, supporting means providing an axis about which the delivery end of the barrel tends to swing downwardly, and normally fixed but adjustable means engaging the barrel and sustaining the weight of the delivery end of the latter and so positioning said delivery end as to provide clearance between the projecting end of the tack strip and the fixed cutter as the barrel moves toward the cutters to present the strip thereto.

17. A tack machine comprising an oscillatory barrel provided with means for gripping a tack strip, and an elongated blank holding receptacle movable longitudinally into the end of the barrel to introduce a tack strip into the latter. and releasable gripping means upon the rear end of the receptacle to retain the tack strip in proper position prior to and during the advance of the receptacle into the barrel.

18. A tack making machine compri ing an oscillating barrel. a normally stationary blank holder disposed in substantial alignment with the barrel. and means for moving the holder longitudinally into the barrel.

19. A tack making machine comprising an oscillating barrel, a normally stationary blank holder disposed substantially in alignment with the barrel, and gravity actuated means for moving the holder into the barrel to introduce a blank therein.

20. A tack making machine comprising blank presenting means, andmeans for bolding a reserve blank for replenishment of the presenting means comprising a normally stationary receptacle provided with releasable blank gripping means.

21. A tack machine having an oscillating blank presenting barrel and replenishing means comprising an elongate receptacle normally tending to move into the barrel, and releasable latch means normally pre venting such movement.

22. A tack machine comprising an oscillating blank presenting barrel, and blank replenishing means comprising a receptacle axially aligned with the barrel, and means normally holding a blank in definite position within the receptacle.

23. A tack making machine comprising an oscillatory barrel, an elongate trough-like receptacle normally aligned with the barrel, and meanssfor moving said receptacle longitudinally into the barrel.

24. A tack making machine comprising an oscillatory barrel provided at one end with blank guiding means, a normally stationary receptacle substantially aligned with the barrel at its other end, releasable means for retaining the receptacle in normal position, and means for moving the receptacle into the barrel upon release of the retaining means.

25. A tack making machine comprising blank presenting means, and means for holding a reserve blank for replenishment of the presenting means comprising a trongh like receptacle provided with blank gripping nippers at one end.

26. A tack machine having ablank presenting barrel, and blank presenting means comprising an elongate rebeptacle provided at one end with blank gripping nippers, means tending to project the receptacle axially into the barrel, and releasable means normally holding the receptacle in inoperative position.

27. A tack making machine comprising blank presenting means, and replenishing means cooperating therewith comprising an elongated open trough-like blank holding receptacle. a pair of nippers projecting into the receptacle at one end for gripping the end of a blank lying in the receptacle, and means whereby the grip of the nippers may be released.

.28. A tack making machine comprising an oscillating barrel having blank guiding means at one end, av blank holding receptacle substantially aligned with the barrel and projecting into its opposite end, means for retaining a blank within the receptacle, releasable means normally preventing movement of the receptacle, and means for moving the receptacle With the blank longitudinally into the receptacle when released.

29. A tack machine having a. strip presenting barrel, means 'for turning the barrel, a replenishing receptacle aligned axially with the barrel, and rotary reserve strip holding means carried by the receptacle, said holding means being constructed and arranged to permit a strip held thereby to it partake of the turning movements of the barrel.

30. A tack machine having a barrel, a replenishing receptacle axially aligned therewith, a pair of nippers carried by the recep tacle, and supporting means for said nippers permitting them to turn freely about the axis of the barrel.

81. A tack machine having a barrel, a re plenshing receptacleaxially aligned therewith, a freely rotating sleeve 'journaled in the receptacle, said sleeve bein substan tially coaxial with the barrel, and a pair of nipper jaws carried by the sleeve.

32. A tack making machine comprising an oscillating barrel having blank guiding means at one end, a normally stationary blank holding receptacle projecting into the other end of the barrel, means for retaining a blank within the receptacle With one end protruding from the receptacle into the barrel, and means {or moving the receptacle into the barrel to insert the protruding endof the blank into the blank guiding means.

33. A tack making machine having an oscillating barrel provided at one end with a tapering gripper head, the latter comprising spaced resilient members provided respectively with oppositely disposed gripping surfaces positioned to engage the lateral edges of a blank, and an elongated carriage upon which a blank may be laid, said carriage being movable to introduce the blank into the barrel and to insert the end of the blank between said gripping surfaces.

34. A tack making machine having an oscillating barrel provided at one end with a gripper head comprising spaced members having guide grooves in their opposite faces to receive the lateral edges of a blank, and means for introducing a blank into the opposite end of the barrel, and for moving it along the barrel until its end is received in said guide grooves.

35. A tack making machine having an oscillating barrel provided at one end with a taperinggripper head, said gripper head comprising oppositely disposed complemental members having elongated guide chan' nels in their opposite faces to receive the opposite edges of a blank strip. and means for introducing a blank into the opposite Gil end of the barrel and moving it into engagement with said guide channels.

36. A tack machine having an oscillating blank presenting barrel, and replenishing means comprising an elongated blank holding carriage axially ali ned with the barrel,

means for holding sai carriage in normal fixed position, and automatic means for releasing said holding means upon need for replenishment of the barrel whereby to per 38. A tack machine having cutting instru-'.

mentalities, blank presenting and replenishing means, power actuated driving means,

and blank controlled means, independent of the operation of said driving means, for. antomatically initiating operation of the re-.

plenishing means upon substantial exhaustion of a blank in the presenting means.

39. A tack machine having a movable blank receiving barrel, replenlshing means, and blank controlled means, including a spring actuated feeler normally held in inoperative position by engagement with the blank, said feeler initiating operation of the replenishing means upon exhaustion of. the blank. i

40. A tack machine having cutting instrumentalities, a blank receiving barrelconstructed and arranged "to turn for presenting opposite sides ofthe blank alternately 'to the cutting instrumentalit-ies, replenishing devices, and a blank feeling element, operative independently of the turning of the barrel, for-initiating operation of the replenishing means. y

41. A tack machine having cutting instrumentalities,blank presenting and replenishing means, and means for automatically initiating operation of the replenishing means comprising a blank feeling element constructed and arranged to engage a blank at a point closely adjacent to the cutting instrumentalities.

42.'A tack machine having cutting instrumentalities, a blank receiving barrel constructed and arranged to turn for presenting opposite sidesof the blank alternately to the cutting instrumentalities, replenishing devices, a feeler mounted to turn with the barrel, and means actuable upon relative movement of the feeler: and barrel 'in the absence of a blank in the latter, for

initiating operation ;of the replenishingdevices, said latter means operating independently of the turning movement of the barrel.

43. A tack machine having a tack prescnt-' ing gripper head comprising a pair of jaws each having a guide channel for the reception of the edge portion of atack strip, and replenishing mechanism comprising a spring pressed feeler finger interposed between the jaws and bearing against the face of the strip.

44. A tack machine having a tack presenting gripper head comprising opposed members having guide channels for the reception of the edge portions respectively of a tack strip, and means bearing resiliently against the face of'a strip in said gripper head tending to hold the strip in contact with one side wall of each of said channels.

45. A tack machine having cutting .instrumentalities, blank presenting means, replenishing means, and a blank feeling'device constructed and arranged to engage a blank held by the presenting means at a point closely adjacent to the cutting instrumentalities and in the absence of a blank to initiate operation of the replenishing means.

46. A tack machine having a barrel provided at one end with a blank guiding gripper head,'replenishing means and a blank feeling device disposed to contact with a blank in thegripper head at apoint closely adjacent to the end of the latter and in the absence of a blank to initiate operation of the replenishing means.

47. A tack machine comprising an oscillating barrel having a blank guiding gripper head at one end, and. a blank feeling finger associated with said gripper head and held in normal position by the presence of a blank therein, and means tending to move said finger to abnormal position in the absence of a blank.

.48. A tack machinehaving'an oscillating barrel provided at one end with a gripper head, having a passage for a blank and comprising spaced, opposed blank gripping members, and a blank feeling finger con'- structed and arranged to moveinwardlybetween said members into the passage in the absence of a blank in the latter.

49. A tack machine havinga barrel provided at one end with a gripper head comprising spaced blank gripping members, a lever mounted to swing substantially in the plane of the space between said members, said lever having an arm extending substantiallytothe extremity of the gripper head, and means tending to swing the lever tocause said arm to enter between said members and engage a blank held between the latter.

pin aws, an ear projecting from each jaw,

-i ll to enter the space between said jaws, and a spring tending so to move said arm whereby to bring it into engagement with a blank held between the jaws.

51. A tack machine having blank present ing means comprising a gripper head provided with an opening, a lever pivotally supported upon the gripper head and having an arm arranged to enter said opening; a spring normally tending so to move said arm as to hold its end in contact with a blank Within the gripper head, and a stop for limiting movement of the lever.

52. A tack machine having blank presenting means comprising a gripper head provided with opposed gripping jaws spaced to provide a longitudinally extending, slot between them, an ear projecting from each jaw adjacent to the edge of the slot, an elongate feeler lever fulcrumed between said ears, a spring engaging one arm of the lever and tending to swing the opposite arm thereof inwardly through the slot, and a pair of stop lugs projecting from said latter arm of the lever and engageable with the jaws at the edges of the slot to limit movement of the lever.

53. A tack machine comprising movable strip presenting meansya 't'ecler linger adjacent to the delivery end oi? the presenting means, replenishing devices. and electrical means for controlling the replenishing devices including an electrical circuit, the euergization of said circuit bein determined by the position of the 'leeler linger.

5-4. A tack machine having tack forming and strip presenting means, replenishing de vices. an electric circuit including an elce trically controlled releasable latch for determining operation of the replenishing devices, and a feeler controlled in position by a strip in the presenting means for completing the electrical circuit to release the latch upon absence ol a strip from the presenting means.

A tack machine having cutting instru mcntalities. a strip receiving barrel conslruoted and arranged to turn i'or presenting opposite sides of the blank alternately to the cutting instrumentalitics. a 'l'eeler linger carried by the barrel and normally held in inoperative position by a strip in the barrel. and an electrical circuit comprising spaced terminals mounted on the barrel. said i'celcr having an clement constructed and arranged to complete the circuit through said terminals upon movement of the linger due to exhaustion oi the strip in the barrel.

fill. A tack machine comprising an oscillatory barrel having a pair ol spaced rclalively insulated electrical contacts thereon. a lcclcr linger carried by the barrel and uornmlly held in inoperative position by a lai k strip in the barrel, and means operative to move said finger in the absence of a strip in the b'arrel. whereby to interpose a part of it between said contacts to complete an electrical circuit between them.

57. A tack machine comprising a movable strip presenting barrel. a pair of spaced relatively insulated electrical contacts mounted on the barrel. a movable l'celer mounted on the barrel and lin'ovided with a circuit closing element cooperable with the respective contacts to complete a circuit lhercthrough, said feeler being normally held in lllOPGl'lh tive position by engagement with a strip in the barrel, :1 pair of insulated rings mounted on the barrel and connected respectively with the contacts, and brushes engaging the respective rings and maintaining electrical contact therewith in all positions of the barrel.

58. A tack machine conu'irising blank pre senting means, a signal device, and a blank engaging feeler for determining the operation of the signal device, said feeler being normally held in inoperative position by engagement with a blank in the presenting means.

53). A lack making machine comprising an oscillating barrel having a blank guiding gripper head at one end, a signal device, and means operable upon the passage of the rear end of a blank through the gripper head for a tuaiing the signal device.

(it). A lack machine comprising blank presenting means. av signal device, latch means normally holding the signal device in inoperative position. and means operable, in the absence ol a blank in the presenting means, for rel-casing the latch to permit. the signal to operate.

(51. A lack machine comprising blank presenting means, a signal device, means normally lending to make the signal device operative, and means normally restra ning the signal device from becoming operative, said latter means being controlled by a blank in the presenting means.

62. A tack making machine comprising blank presenting means. a ctnintcrn'cightml signal lever normally tending to assume operative position. a releasable latch for holding said lever in inoperative position. means for releasing the latch. and means. normallv rendered inoperative by a blank in the prescnting means. for actuating the latch releasing means.

(33. A tack machine comprising an oscillilting barrel, a blank lltlillg element sup ported thereby. :1 nornuilly inoperative signal device, and means actuablc by relative movement of the feeling clcmcnl' and barrel for making the signal device operntivc.

6. A tack machine having a barrel providcd at one end with a blank guiding grip per head, means for turning the barrel. a blank feeling linger carried by the gripper head, a signal device. and means l'or initiating actuation of the signal :oiii .n'ising a part disposed adjacent to said gripper head and movable by said feeling finger in the absence of a blank from the grip 'icr head.

65. A tack machine. having a barrel provided at one end with a gripper head, means for turning the barrel, a blank feeling finger carried by the gripper head and retained in normal position by engagementwith a blank in the latter, i'neans tending to turn the finger to abnormal posit on, a signal device, and means for initiating actuation of the signal device comprising a movable part arranged to be engaged by the finger, when abnormally positioned, as it turns with the barrel.

66. A tack machine having a barrel provided with a blank guiding gripper head, means for turning the barrel, a feeler lever mounted thereon, said lever having a blank engaging element and a tail member and being held in normal position by engage ment with a blank, a signal device. a part for initiating actuation of the signal device,

and means for operating said part compris-' ing a lever arm disposed in position to be engaged by the tail of the feeler lever, when the latter is in abnormal position, as it turns with the barrel.

67. A tack machine having a barrel provided with a gripper hea d, means for turning the barrel, a signal device, a releasable latch for initiating movement of the signal device, a movable part carried by the grip per head and normally held closely adjacent thereto by engagement with a blank therein, but tending to move outwardly from the gripper head into an abnormal position. and means for releasing the latch comprising a bell crank lever, one arm of which is disposed in the path of said feeler device. when the latter is in abnormal position, as said feeler deviceturns with the barrel.

68. A tack machine having an oscillating barrel provided with blank guiding means at one end, a signal device, a movable signal controlling part for initiating actuation of the signal device. said part being disposed adjacent to said blank guiding means, and a feeler supported by the barrel and which, as it turns with the barrel, is normally restrained from contacting with said movable part by engagement with a blank, but which is adapted, when free from contact with a blank, to move into a position to engage and move said movable part.

69. A tack machine having an, oscillating barrel provided with blank guiding means at one end, a signal device, a movable signal controlling feeler turning with the barrel, a movable part for initiating actuation of the signal device, said part being disposed in the path of movement of the feeler so as to be engaged by the latter in the absence of a blank in guiding means, the contacting portions of the fceler and said partbeing so constructed and arranged that the latter is moved by the feeler only when the barrel tu ns in one direction.

70. A tack machine having an oscillating barrel provided with blank positioning means, a blank engaging feeler supporte by the barrel, and a part ada ted to be engaged by said feeler upon t ziilnre of the latter to engage a blank, said part having an abrupt shoulder for-contactby the feeler as thebarrel turns in one direction, and an inclined surface over which the feeler rides ineffectively as the barrel turnsin the op posite direction.

71. A tackmachinehaving blank presenting means, devices for replenishing said presenting means, a signal device operable to indicate need for replenishment of the presenting means, and means operable by actuation of the replenishing means for terminating signalling by'the signal device.

72. A tack machine having blank presenting means, means for replen shing said presenting means, a movable signal device, releasable means for holding said signal de vice in inoperative position, means operative, upon need for replenishment, to release said holding means, and means actuable, upon operation of the replenishing means, to restore the signal to inoperative position.

73. A tack machine having blank presenting means, means for replenishing said presenting means comprising a movable blank receptacle, a normally inoperative signal for indicating need for replenishment, and means moving with said blank receptacle for restoring the signal to normal condition.

74. A tack machine having blank pre senting means, means for replenishing said presenting means comprising a moving part, a pivotally mounted. counterweighted signal, a latch for holding said signal in in operative position, means for releasing said latch to permit the signal to swing to operative position, and a lug carried by said moving part and engageable with the signal for returning the latter to inoperative position.

75. A tack machine having a blank presenting barrel. means for replenishing said barrel comprising a normally stationary elongated receptacle aligned with the barrel and adapted to move axially into the latter to supply a blank thereto, a normally inoperative signal device. a releasable latch for holding it in inoperative position, means tending to move it into inoperative position.

a blank feeling finger carried by the barrel and constructed and arranged to initiate-release of said latch when the barrel needs replenishing. and a lug carried by the 1'eceptacle and movable during replenishing to reset the signal.

To. A tack machine having tack forming instrumentalities, a blank presenting barrel, and replenishing means comprising a blank holder normally tendim to move into the barrel, a latch normally preventing such movement, and means operative upon failure oi the machine to produce tacks for operating the latch to release the holder.

77. A tack machine having tack forming instrumentalities, a blank presenting barrel. replenishing means therefor, and means automatically operative upon failure of the machine to reduce tacks, for initiating actuation of the presenting means.

78. A tack machine having tack forming instrumentalities, a blank presenting means, blank replenishing means, and devices, inoperative so long as the machine continues to produce tacks, but operative upon its failure to do so, for initiating'operationof the replenishing means.

79. A tack machine having tack forming instrumentalities, blank presenting and replenishing means, and means for initiating operation of the latter comprising a part whose position is determmed by portions of the blank which have been cut therefrom.

80. A tack machine having tack forming instrumentalities, a blank presenting barrel provided with a gripper head at one end, blank replenishing means, and means in dependent of that portion of the blank which is positioned in the barrel for automatically determining initiation of the re plenishing operation,

81. A tack machine having tack forming instrumentalities and blank presenting means, blank replenishing means, a receptacle for tacks, means for dumping said receptacle at timed intervals, and means 0perative, upon substantial absence of tacks in the receptacle at the time of dam ing, for initiating operation of the rep enishing means.

82. A lack machine having tack forming instrnmentalities, blank presenting and blank replenishing means, a receptacle for receivin tacks from the forn'iing instrumentalities, means for dumping said tacks at timed intervals, a movable element arranged in the path of tacks dumped from the receptacle, and means under the control of said movable member for determining actuation of the replenishing means.

83. A tack machine having tack forming instrumentalities, blank presenting and blank replenishing means, a receptacle for tacks as formed by said instruinentalities, said receptacle having a movable closureat its bottom, means for opening said closure at timed intervals to dump accumulated tacks, a lever having one end normally positioned in the path of tacks dumped from the receptacle, a constantly moving part, and means operable at intervals by the movement of said part, so long as said lever remains in normal position, for initiating movement of the replenishing means.

St. A. tack machine having tack forming instrumentalities, blank presenting means, and blank replenishing means, a hopper positioned to receive tacks dropping from the" forming devices, said hopper having a movable bottom, means for opening said bottom at timed intervals to dump accumulated tacks including a lever having one end thereof disposed below the hopper in the path of tacks dumped therefrom, means holding said lever in normal position, and a rotating member normally operative to engage the opposite end portion of said lever at intervals, providing said lever remains in normal position, thereby to complete an electrical circuit controlling the actuation of the replenishin means.

Signed by us at Brockton, Massachusetts, this eighteenth day of June, 1923.

GEORGE B. BAKER. HERBERT B. BAKER. ED'WARD C. BAKER. 

